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design for Act I, scene 8, Queen's apartment

Design
1705 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This drawing is a design for a stage set depicting Arsinoe alone upon a couch, for Act I Scene IX of Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus performed at the Theatre Royal in 1705. Thornhill loosely suggested the composition in red chalk before going over in pen and ink, and enhacing the darker passages with wash.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Titledesign for Act I, scene 8, Queen's apartment (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Drawing, Design for a stage set for Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus at the Theatre Royal, London by Sir James Thornhill, pen and ink and wash with traces of red chalk, c.1705
Physical description
Drawing in pen and ink and wash. A stage set design for Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus, as produced at Theatre Royal, London, depicting Arsinoe alone upon a couch.
Dimensions
  • Height: 342mm
  • Width: 272mm
Dimensions checked: Measured 21/04/1999 by LH Current mount is H 53, W 38
Marks and inscriptions
Arsinoe on a Couch. Act 1st Sc. 3d. A Room of State, with statuary and Bustoes.
Object history
Provenance: purchased from W.J. Smith in 1891

This drawing came to the museum as part of an album containing drawings and engravings chiefly by Thornhill. The album was dismantled and the works remounted.
Place depicted
Association
Summary
This drawing is a design for a stage set depicting Arsinoe alone upon a couch, for Act I Scene IX of Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus performed at the Theatre Royal in 1705. Thornhill loosely suggested the composition in red chalk before going over in pen and ink, and enhacing the darker passages with wash.
Bibliographic reference
Department of Prints and Drawings, Theatre Costume Design in the Victoria and Albert Museum Colour Microfiche, Emmett Microform, 1985
Collection
Accession number
D.28-1891

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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